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06/06/2024

EP.4 "China through film pics". Giant Wild goose pagoda.

Xi'an is really famous for the Terracotta Army. And it makes sense, it is an amazing historical artifacts that survived centuries.

However, it would be wrong to assume that Xi'an is worth visiting only for that reason.
On our last day there, we visited the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. An amazing buddhist complex that was used in the past to hold sutras and figurines of Gautama Buddha that were brought to China from India. Indeed one of the highlight of the trip for me.

Fun fact: I almost broke my digital camera that day, it wasnt working. Really low morale, but somehow this place relaxed me a lot. I calmed down at the end (and the camera started working again). Sometimes you just need a little something to get good vibes back.

Not a lot to say for this one, I just wanted to share this amazing place. Words cannot really describe feelings🤟.
Just enjoy.

see you next time

01/06/2024

EP.3 "China through film pics". Trains and Xi'an.

After Beijing, we took a train to Xi'an. Now, in China the distances are crazy compared to Europe. Luckily, chinese train are really fast.

In China train stations are similar to our airports. Lots of controls and huge buildings. Train tickets are issued 15 days before the train departure, and you need to be fast to book them, seats are limited and chinese people are a lot🤣. Once you buy them, you just need to bring your passport. For most of the things in China, that is the only ticket you need (for someone working in privacy, it can be a bit harsh to accept...).

General Albi wanted us to be there on time. 3 hours before. A little exagerated but hey, it was our first train (at least thats what I was telling myself as an excuse). After some panick due to the fact that we thought pur tickets were wrong, we managed. Even if chinese people do not speak english (and we dont speak chinese either) they were always extremely helpful). The trains are extremely clean and always on point (from that moment, we started to call them Swiss Trains). Metros are super clean and organized as well. Despite the language barrier, I found China super friendly to navigate.

Xi'an is really a cool city. Mainly famous for the Terracotta Army (30km +/- from the city), it has many other things to visit. My favourite was indeed the mosque, truly amazing and peaceful. Same for the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, but thats for another time. Street food is delicious and we have always tried to eat far from the touristic places, in small and tiny local shops, even though once Albi wanted to try the local Pizza Hut... bad decision for our stomach...

In any case, Xi'an definitely deserves a visit. Amazing city, only ruined (IMHO) by way too many people wearing Hanfu dresses only as a trend.

See you next time.

28/05/2024

EP.2 "China through film pics"- The Great Wall.

There is a reason why it is one of the 7 (+1) wonders of the world. It is an impressive human creation going through northern China.

Contrary to common knowledge it was not built in a single effort but rather through numerous stages spanning several dynasties, for defense against various nomadic invasions.

We wanted to see it of course, but how? And where? They say that the Wall is 21000km! WTF we only have one day🤣
Actually, there are many sections of the Wall. Only some of them are worth visiting, since many are ruined or too far to reach.

Among the most renowned sections are Badaling, Mutianyu, and Jinshanling. Badaling is the closest one, but definitely the fakest (rebuilt) and most crowded of the 3.
We opted for Mutianyu, which was the right compromise for us. Authentic, not too far and not too turistic (for a wilder experience, choose Jinshanling). There are many buses that get you there in 2 hours and a half.
During the trip they were proposing us many extras, such as tickets for the cable cars. I labelled those proposals as "turists' traps". I dont need to pay to get there, I will go on my own. I was wrong. Luckily, Albi, as the logical mind of the trip, took them.

In fact, turns out they call it "the Wall" for a reason. It is quite a walk to reach it, and once you get there, there are many steep sections, even for someone sporty.

0 turists and amazing views (Mostly Chinese people: in China they say that you are not a man/women if you havent been to the Wall). What else. Really crazy, something to do before dying for sure.
If you want... but I totally dissociate from this... you can try a slide to get down the Wall... this was an expensive tourist trap... And Albi felt for it. And me too since I was obliged🤣

Well, a small mistake... Addionally, be ready to take a lot of pictures... but not of the Wall🤣... We were constantly assoulted by locals that were asking us for selfies etc. Above all Albi. I was really offended.

For sure, one of the main highlights of the trip.

24/05/2024

EP.1 of "China through film pics", where we will show our trip through film pictures taken with a film camera.

The first episode is dedicated to the Forbidden City, in the Middle of Beijing.
It is really hard to get the tickets. You need to connect exactly one week before at 14.00 CET to get them. For every chinese person is a dream to visit it, therefore it is always sold out.
We managed to get them thanks to a local guide. I deeply believe that, by visiting it by yourself, you will miss many important facts, places or anecdote. The place is huge! We spent 5 hours inside and we barely scratched the surface of it. It is also really protected... Many checkpoints and controls, Albi even got stopped for carrying suncream🤣

It is not surprising... The Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square (in front of it) were some of the places where Chinese history was made, like the protests in 1919 or 1989. The sensitivity of the place is so high that our guide told us that political questions were not allowed... Censorship and control are something else in China, you will see it in other posts as well.

Finally, it was striking for me to see Mao Zedong's portrait prominently displayed in the square and his mausoleum nearby. Mao Zedong is a controversial figure, revered by many for founding the People's Republic of China, yet criticized for the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward, which led to widespread suffering and deaths. Another symbol that represents China's complexity and controversies.

In any case, visiting this place was amazing. One of the best thing seen during the trip. Full of history.

See you next time!

19/05/2024

The Temple of Heaven, or Tiantan, in Beijing is a ceremonial site for the Ming and Qing dynasties, where emperors performed rituals to ensure good harvests and seek divine favor.

It was constructed in the early 15th century, during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who also commissioned the construction of the Forbidden City.

The architecture of the Temple reflects ancient Chinese cosmological beliefs and symbolizes the connection between Heaven and Earth.

It is a must-visit landmark in Beijing, providing turists with a glimpse of the ancient Chinese rituals and beliefs.

25/04/2024

The history of the Chand Baori stepwell in Abhaneri, India dates back over a thousand years. It was commissioned by King Chanda of the Nikumbha Dynasty between the 8th and 9th centuries AD. The stepwell served both practical and religious purposes, providing the local community with a reliable water source during the arid seasons and also functioning as a gathering place for rituals and social activities.

What makes the Chand Baori stepwell famous is its remarkable architectural design. It consists of 3,500 narrow steps arranged in a precise geometric pattern, leading down to a depth of about 20 meters (65 feet). The stepwell is ingeniously designed to conserve water and maintain a cool temperature even during the scorching summers of Rajasthan. The intricate carvings, ornate pillars, and symmetrical layout of the stepwell are a testament to the advanced engineering skills of the time.

Today, it stands as a symbol of India's rich cultural heritage and architectural prowess, earning its place as one of the most famous stepwells in the world.

21/04/2024

Hawa Mahal, also known as the "Palace of Winds," is a stunning architectural marvel located in Jaipur, India. Built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, it was designed by Lal Chand Ustad in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. Its unique facade features 953 small windows called jharokhas, which were designed to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life and festivals in the street below without being seen, due to the purdah system prevalent at the time, which secluded women and kept them out of public view. Despite its name, Hawa Mahal was not a residential palace but rather an extension of the Royal City Palace, serving as a place for the royal women to enjoy the festivities and events of the city without being seen by the public. Its intricate latticework and pink sandstone construction make it an iconic symbol of Jaipur's rich architectural heritage and a must-visit destination!

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